DrawingAcademy

Article by Carol GRACE de SOFIA, Drawing Academy student

JOSÉ JIMÉNEZ ARANDA – 1837-1903

In 1889, Jiménez Aranda’s brother Luis was awarded a prize for “The Hospital,” painted from the interior of a French hospital and meticulously detailed.

The piece received the Medal of Honor at the Spanish Pabillion during the Universal Expo in Paris. This marked a painting renaissance throughout Spain.

The Universal Expo of 1889 initiated a new trend in Spanish painting: Naturalism. José Jiménez Aranda said of his brother Luis’ artwork that “It is simple and logical. We know how to paint, but need to renovate ourselves.”

Only Great Masters are able to change their style—which is exactly what Jiménez Aranda did, proving once more his real talent. He had already mastered the Casaca style and earned a tremendous reputation, and even though he was over 50 years old, he completely changed course…

Article by Carol GRACE de SOFIA, Drawing Academy student

JOSÉ JIMÉNEZ ARANDA – 1837-1903

In Rome, Jiménez Aranda worked for months, developing the details of his art and further personalizing each piece.

He planned his pictures in successive stages, determining in advance what he was going to paint, and in exactly what way.

The figures in his “cloak” (casacones) paintings were carefully studied. He constantly made sketches and preparatory drawings for each canvas.

He conducted rigorous research about the objects and clothes he included.
The attitudes and manners of his characters are natural and well-balanced, the figures relaxed and lacking any artificiality…

Article by Carol GRACE de SOFIA, Drawing Academy student

JOSÉ JIMÉNEZ ARANDA – 1837-1903

An artist that demanded a tremendous amount out of himself…

José Jiménez Aranda was born in Seville, Spain, on February 7, 1837.

He was known for his plain yet elegant manners and for his fiery temper. He would display a gentle look as he made heartfelt, simple, and precise statements.

When observing a piece of art that he despised, he would make a very scrupulous and witty analysis of the piece, disregarding the creator.

Sorolla spoke of Jiménez Aranda as a Great Master of Art, as well as a gentleman of character and humility, from whom much could be learned, not only in matters of art but of personal conduct as well.

In 1848, when Aranda was 14, his father enrolled him in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Santa Isabel of Hungary, located in Seville, Spain, where he would himself teach in his late years. His Tutors were Don Antonio Cabral Bejarano, the patriarch of Sevillian painting and an excellent artist in his own right, and Don Eduardo Cano de la Peña, an innovative teacher who would encourage his students to look for inspiration from life, transgressing the Academic standards of the time…

Article by Clayton Cogmon Jr.

Just about everyone knows about the great sculptor Michelangelo. However, it was very surprising to discover that not too many people know that this great sculptor was also a great painter; his most famous painting (or should I say paintings), was the nine paintings on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. These paintings are considered cornerstone works of High Renaissance art.

The Sistine Chapel ceiling was painted between the years 1477 and 1480. The project was given to Michelangelo by Pope Julius II. Michelangelo was very reluctant to accept this project given the fact that he was primarily a sculptor and had not painted in fresco ( a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid lime plaster) in around twenty years. He also stated that: “Painting was for women.” The Pope however, was insistent, so Michelangelo was forced to accept the strenuous project…